Sushma

The Problem

In India, sexual abuse is an important issue, however, young children and adolescents, who are often the target of such abuse, have not been sufficiently educated on the subject.

The Solution

Sushma and her team teach self-defence to adolescents and children, in schools and orphanages in rural Karnataka, to empower them to protect themselves and their peers. They also educate them on the topic of sexual abuse to help them understand what it means, using a variety of tools including good touch and bad touch. Not only does she educate young people on the threats of sexual abuse, but also teaches both boys and girls about the consequences of their actions and how to respect and treat each other.

The Venture

Sushma works with a team of two, who conduct workshops with her. So far, they have worked in around 15 schools with over 1000 children. They have received financial support from the Deshpande Foundation.

The Changemaker

Sushma is in her 3rd year, studying Agriculture, at the College of Agriculture, Vijayapura. She started her venture after being exposed to several cases of sexual abuse in the media.